Garlic Growers' Exchange

Time to cure?

Its early September now. You have most likely harvested by
now and are on to the curing stage. Brush off the dirt, and lay the
bulbs out to dry in a cool spot on newspaper. If you are
growing more than one variety, be sure to keep the types separate
(write the names on the newspaper where it is drying). Then
you can explore the taste differences, and become a
connoisseur.

And...if you are donating some of your garlic to the Calgary
Horticultural Society's garlic event (see below), we will be
delighted to receive it on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9am and
2pm or this coming Saturday from 9-11am in the back garden of our
offices. You will get a credit note to
use at this year's Garlic Exchange as well as an
entry for a draw prize.

GARLIC FAIR 2017. JOIN THE EXCHANGE!

The Calgary Horticultural Society
is dedicated to supporting local growers. One way in which we do
this is to encourage gardeners and to celebrate gardening in
Calgary.

Join us for our 5th Annual Garlic
Fair and Growers' Exchange! Come and enjoy an afternoon with music,
speakers, gardening experts and all things garlic! The event will
take place at Golden Acre Home & Garden, 620 Goddard Ave
NE.

Did you know that you can grow up
to 45 different types of Heritage Hardneck Garlic in Calgary! Come
and find out how. Ask questions about how to improve upon an
existing garden. Exchange bulbs of one kind to try another. Taste,
listen, learn. Join us for a fun event and share in the bounty that
Calgary gardeners work so hard to grow.

Participating in the Growers'
Exchange

No experience is required! By participating, you gain connection
with other gardeners and resources while becoming a part of the
local movement to cultivate heritage hardneck garlic.

How does it work?

There are Two Levels of
Growers:

1.
Individual Growers:
Residential orindividual
community gardeners.

Individual Growers are asked to:

Return the following year with bulbs of cured garlic grown in
your own garden.

Keep track of each
variety while growing & harvesting and return bulbs that are
cured the following year with proper labelling.

2. Partner Growers: Residential gardeners
or community gardens dedicated to growing enough garlic to support
this exchange with varieties of garlic stock to sell to new
participants.

Partner Growers are asked
to:

Return their harvest to the Growers' Exchange in
2017.

Post a sign provided by Calgary
Horticultural Society in the garden to identify your crop as a part
of the Calgary Garlic Fair 2017/ Growers' Exchange.

Keep track of each variety while growing, harvesting and return
it cured the following year with proper labelling.

Receive tokens/credit notes to put towards your purchase of new
varieties or more of the same varieties of garlic to grow for the
following season.

Enter your name to win our Raffle for Partner Growers as a
thank you for supporting us.

Note to All Growers:

Please commit to using NO chemical sprays (herbicides,
pesticides) on your garlic crop.

Assure that only organic or chemical free
fertilizers are used in the garden bed where the garlic is
grown.

Maintain records of the garlic
varieties that are being grown and properly label bulbs upon return
to the exchange next year.

Returning Participants:

Prior to this event, bring your harvested, cured garlic bulbs
in a paper bag labelled with your name and variety of garlic to the
Calgary Horticultural Society offices. Receive a token or credit
note to put towards your new purchases at the Growers' Exchange
/Garlic Fair 2017! Also add your name to our Raffle and get ready
to win one of several great prizes!

At the event, bring your token/credit note and use it towards
your purchase of a different type of garlic or get more of the same
if you loved what your grew last year!

New Participants:

Learn how to grow garlic from one of our experts

Listen to one of the several talks that will be offered on
topics ranging from Growing Garlic to Cooking with Garlic to The
Health Benefits of Garlic.

Buy some garlic to plant and grow and share. Join the
Exchange!

Buy some garlic to eat.

Join us and listen to music, walk around and enjoy.

Please contact the Coordinator of Community Gardens at The
Calgary Horticultural Society with any questions, or to sign up and
receive emails about Garlic Fair 2017. Join the Exchange!

Want to help out?

We are actively looking for volunteers to help put on this
event. If you are interested, please call the office of Calgary
Horticultural Society at 403-287-3469 x. 227 or email
communitygardens@calhort.org